The African Union (AU) considers it crucial and imperative to hold presidential election on schedule in Guinea-Bissau, a senior AU official said here at the weekend.

Joao Bernardo de Miranda, AU's special envoy to Guinea-Bissau, told reporters that the presidential election in the west African country "should be held on the scheduled date as the first step for stability and resolution of the crisis in that country."

The AU special envoy made the remarks when referring to the deaths last Friday of Baciro Dabo, Guinea-Bissau's former minister of Territorial Administration and candidate to the presidential elections, Helder Proenca, member of parliament, and two other people for alleged involvement in an attempted coup d'etat.

The special envoy also appealed to the international community to analyze calmly the chance to ensure the security of the populations, candidates and institutions in the west African country.

According to him, the scheduled general election aims at the normalization and stability of the country, saying that the election is the starting point which is extremely important to other steps to follow, namely the dialogue among Guineans and the necessary reforms that are badly needed in the country.

He added that it is imperative to have a Head of State before carrying out the dialogue and reforms, therefore it is necessary to hold the presidential election on schedule.

According to Chairman of the National Electoral Commission Desire Lima da Costa, the campaign for the June 28 presidential election in Guinea-Bissau will be postponed "because there are no psychological conditions or others."

Guinea-Bissau will hold early elections following the assassination of President "Nino" Vieira on March 2, hours after the death of the staff chief of the Armed Forces Tagme In Waie.

Source: Xinhua